Dice tumbler

ABSTRACT

A dice tumbler comprising a housing and a plurality of spaced partitions for dividing the housing into a plurality of adjoining, yet isolated, compartments respectively, each of the compartments having an access opening through which a die is insertable. The housing is generally transparent for permitting observation of die disposition. Associated with the housing is an auxiliary tumbler housing, the latter including a laterally extending member for initially altering, in abrupt fashion, the disposition of the die as the latter is in free-fall. The auxiliary tumbler housing may be detachably connected to each access opening of the compartments respectively in a successive manner so as to permit a plurality of dice to be successively cast into each of the compartments respectively.

United States Patent 1191 [111 3,724,857 Marina 1 Apr. 3, 1973 [54] DICE TUMBLER 1,432,719 2/1966 France ..273/14s A 333,145 2/1921 Germany ....273/145 B [76] Inventor. Albert J. Marina, 7818 12th Avenue, klyn N'Yl 228 1,246,738 10/1960 France ..273/145 B [22] Filed: May 28, 1971 Primary ExaminerAnton O. Oechsle Assistant Examiner-Amold W. Kramer [21] Appl' 148095 Attorney-Friedman & Goodman [52] US. Cl. ..273/145 B ABSTRACT [51] Int. Cl. A631 9/04 A dice tumbler comprising a housing and a l V M, w r p ura 1ty of Fleld of Searcg "fi l g' g spaced partitions for dividing the housing into a plu- 273/145 145 C l4 1 4 rality of adjoining, yet isolated, compartments respec- 273/144 144 145 35/24 R tively, each of the compartments having an access opening through which a die is insertable. The housing is generally transparent for permitting observation of [56] Rem'ences Cited die disposition. Associated with the housing is an aux- UNITED STATES PATENTS iliary tumbler housing, the latter including a laterally extending member for 1n1t1ally altering, 1n abrupt 3,508,755 4/1970 Johnson ..273/l45 C fashion the disposition of the die as the latter is in 2,739,815 3/1956 Fay ..273/145 C f f n The auxiliary tumbler housing may be detachably connected to each access opening of the 313171132 5 1967 Martin....::.::....::: ..35 24 R x respectwely a success' manner FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 59,744 11/1891 Germany ..273/l45A as to permit a plurality of dice to be successively cast into each of the compartments respectively.

8 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures DICE TUMBLER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to dice tumblers, and more particularly to a dice tumbler which in large measure is stationary and does not utilize movable members for agitating dice.

As is conventionally understood, dice may be thrown manually onto a playing" surface so as to effect random agitation of the dice. Alternatively, dice may be placed into a rotatable drum and as the drum is rotated, the dice are agitated in a random manner. Moreover, dice may be freely encapsulated in a fully enclosed hand-agitator, the latter which may be shaken vigorously to effect random agitation of the dice.

The disadvantage associated with manually gripping dice and, thereafter, casting the latter onto a playing surface is the fact that one or both dice may roll off the playing" surface thereby resulting in questionable validity of the dice cast.

The problem associated with disposing dice into a rotatable drum, the latter which upon rotation agitates the dice in a random manner, is the fact that the arrangement of a rotatable drum is somewhat cumbersome, difficult to package in a minimal space as is often required in novelty games and the likeand, moreover, relatively expensive tomanufacture and arrange.

The disadvantage associated with the housing which freely encapsulatesdice, and characterized herein as a hand-agitator" is the fact that all of the dice therein are simultaneously agitated as the hand-agitator is vigorously shaken. In this respect, certain games require that each player be provided-with a'preselectedone of the dice and, thus, it is difficult to distinguish, in the absence of color distinctions, which die is associated with a particular player.

Still another disadvantage associated with the handagitator is the fact that certain players attribute the finaldispositionof the'dice to-a feeling of luck which they believe depends upon a personal touching of the dice prior totheir being cast. Obviously, when dice are fully encapsulated in a hand-agitator, personal touching of thedice cannot at all be realized.

SUMMARY OF TI-IEINVENTION Accordingly, it is'an object of the present invention to provide a dice tumbler which most effectively randomly agitates oneora plurality of dice.

It is another object of the present invention to provide adice tumbler that permits personal manipulation of the dice prior to their being cast.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a dice tumbler that may be readily employed in games which require preselected dice which are associated with various players respectively to be maintained in isolated relation for permitting ready distinction of each die that is associated with a particular player. It is still another object of the present invention to provide a dice tumbler which most effectively prevents a player from casting a die without fully agitating the latter, thus, insuring the random final disposition of the dice.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a dice tumbler that incorporates a plurality of adjoining yet isolated compartmentsextending in a linear array in a manner most suitable for games which require stepped advancement of a plurality of game pieces respectively along adjoining tracks such as that which simulates automobile and horse races.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS With the above and additional objects and advantages in view as will hereinafter appear, this invention comprises the devices, combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings of a preferred embodiment in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a generally perspective view of the assembled dice tumbler pursuant to the present invention, an auxiliary tumbling housing being in a position in detachable operative association with one of the housing compartments; 1 7

FIG. 2 illustrates a side elevational view of the dice tumbler-pursuant to the present invention; and

FIG. 3 illustrates a partially fragmentary perspective view of the auxiliary tumbler housing which may be successively operatively associated detachably with each of the primary housing compartments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring now to the drawing, and more particularly to FIG. 1 thereof, the present invention relates generally to a dice tumbler generally denoted by the reference character 10. The tumbler 10 includes a housing 12 and an auxiliary tumbler housing 14 detachably connectable and communicatable with the housing 12 through the intermediary of a generally circular conduit 16 having opposite open ends defining a free passageway between the housing 12 and the auxiliary tumbler housing 14.

The housing 12 is provided with a front wall 18, a rear wall 20 and a pair of opposing side walls 22. Furthermore, the housing 12 is divided into aplurality of successively adjoining, yet isolated, compartments, l-8respectively, through the intermediary of a plurality of spaced partitions 24. Provided at the bottom of the housing 12 is a base 26 for appropriately maintaining the housing 12 in an upstanding position. The housing 12, furthermore, includes an upper open-ended portion 28 in which is provided a plurality of circular access openings 30 respectively associated with each of the compartments defined by the partitions 24.

The auxiliary tumbler housing 14 may be generally constituted as a hollow cube having an upper circular opening 32 and a lower circular opening 34. A crossbar 36,. which extends diagnally across the auxiliary tumbler housing 14 in transverse relation with the latter, is spaced between the upper and lower circular openings 32 and 34 respectively and connected in the housing 14 as by conventional means. Each of the openings which are provided in the housing 12 and in the auxiliary tumbler housing 14 are of substantially greater diametrical extent than that of the maximum extent of each of the dice 38 to be utilized with the tumbler 10 to permit ready passage therethrough.

It should be understood that each portion of the tumbler housing 14 and housing 12, in which the openings 32, 34 and 30 are provided respectively, is of minimal extent or substantially less than one-half the least lateral extent of the dice 38 so as not to prevent the latter from passing through the respective openings should the die 38 contact that portion. Thus, each die cannot remain at rest thereon, but will continue to pass through the respective openings.

The tumbler l0, pursuant to the present invention, may be utilized with a host of various games and most particularly with games which require a stepwise advancement of game pieces as is usually found in automobile and horse race simulating games. Thus, the housing 12 is generally of rectangular extent and is divided into a plurality of adjacent compartments, the latter being generally denoted by the reference characters 1-8 respectively, the compartments extending in linear array so as to simulate a starting post of a race track. The game may be initiated by first inserting the lower open-ended portion of the conduit 16 into the access opening 30 of compartment 1, which conduit 16 and all of the access openings 30 provided in the housing 12 are operatively associated with one anotheriin press-fit relation, and, thereafter, depositing or casting a die 38 into the upper circular 32 of the auxiliary tumbler housing 14. The die 38, in free-fall, will engage the cross-bar 36, the latter acting to abruptly alter the disposition of the die 38 as it is in free-fall so as to insure random agitation of the latter. The die will then continue its free-fall and pass through the lower opening 34 and into the conduit 16 and enter through the access opening 30 of the compartment 1. The agitated die 38 will then contact the base 26 and, due to the elasticity of the latter and the die 38, the die 38 will be further agitated until it finally reaches an at rest condition upon the base 26. Since the front wall 18, the rear wall 20 and side walls 22 are generally constituted of transparent plastic, the ultimate disposition of the die 38 in its at rest condition, may be readily observed by the players and permit the player associated with the compartment 1 to move his game piece a correspondingnumber of steps as indicated by the upper exposed face of the die 38 in its at rest condition.

The auxiliary tumbler housing 14 and, therefore, the circular conduit 16 are then removed from the access opening 30 associated with the compartment 1 and, thereafter, the lower open ended portion of the circular conduit. l6 isthen inserted into press-fit relation with the access opening 30 associated with the compartment 2. The player associated with the compartment 2 then proceeds to deposit or cast his die 38 into the auxiliary tumbler housing 14 through the upper circular opening 32 of the latter and the die will follow a similar freefall agitated path into the confines of the compartment 2. Obviously, the cross-bar 36 will again act to abruptly alter the disposition of the die 38 as it proceeds in freefall and, again,,insure the random agitation of the die 38 as it proceeds into the confines of the compartment 2. This procedure of successively connecting the auxiliary tumbler housing 14 to each of the access openings 30 of the compartments 1-8 respectively is continuously repeated until each of the players has cast the dice once. Each player, of course, moves his game piece in stepwise advancement a number of steps corresponding to the upper exposed face of the die 38 associated with that particular players designated compartment. The game is continued until either one or a plurality of game pieces have passed the games finish line.

The significance of the auxiliary tumbler housing 14 is an important aspect of the present invention in that it insures in a preliminary manner substantial random agitation of each die 38 as the latter is deposited therein prior to the die 38 being again agitated by the elasticity of the base 26 of the housing 12. It is noteworthy, that the overall tumbler 10 pursuant to the present invention satisfies a number of important conditions in that the tumbler 10 is not a cumbersome structure requiring great space, nor does it require any moving parts whatsoever for enhancing the agitation of the dice as the latter are cast therein. Furthermore, each player may manipulate the dice prior to casting the latter into the tumbler 10 so vas to permit each player to personally grasp the dice and impart to the latter the players personal sense of luck. Moreover, the housing isolates each of the dice relative to one another so that each is identifiable with a particular player and, also, confines the dice to a particular area so that the dice cannot fall off a.playing surface which otherwise may result in questionable validity of the casting of the dice. Obviously, because of the.

overall configuration of the tumbler 10, the latter may be readily incorporated into a minimal space in a c0nventional manner associated with various games and is easily manufactured inexpensively.

Numerous alterations of the structure herein disclosed will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art. However, it is to be understood that the present disclosure relates to a preferred embodiment of the invention which is for purposes of illustration only and not to be construed as a limitation of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A dice tumbler comprising a housing, said housing including front, rear, top, bottom and side walls defining a generally rectangular configuration in transverse cross-section, a plurality of spaced partitions of parallel extent disposed in said housing, said partitions dividing said housing into a plurality of successively adjoining yet isolated compartments extending in a linear array, each of said compartments being at least partially transparent for permitting observation of die disposition, said housing top wall being provided with a plurality of access openings corresponding in number to said compartments, each of said access openings being disposed respectively with an associated one of said compartments to provide a passageway through which a die is insertable into said associated one of said compartments, auxiliary means detaehably connectable in operative association with any selected one of said access openings for initially inducing die tumbling prior to insertion into a selected compartment, said auxiliary means being movable from a first selected access opening to a second selected access opening, said auxiliary means including a chamber member provided with top and bottom walls, said chamber top wall being provided with a first aperture therethrough on said chamber bottom wall being provided with an opposing second aperture therethrough, said chamber including a tumbling inducing means disposed between and spaced from said chamber top and bottom walls in a position extending across said first and second apertures from one chamber side wall to an opposite chamber side wall for engaging and altering disposition of a die in free-fall from said first aperture to insure random agitation of the free-falling die before reaching said second aperture, said tumbling inducing means allowing the free-falling die to pass in a random manner in either one of two paths defined by opposite sides of said tumbler inducing means respectively, said auxiliary means further including a conduit connected to said chamber bottom wall in communication with said second aperture for receiving the free-falling die, and means removably securing said conduit to said housing top wall in communication with said any selected one of said a access openings for insertion of the free-falling die into said selected compartment.

2. A dice tumbler as claimed in claim 1, wherein said chamber member in transverse cross-section is provided with a substantially larger area than that of said conduit.

3.. A dice tumbler as claimed in claim 1, wherein said chamber member and each of said compartments respectively in transverse cross-section include generally a parallelogram extent, said tumbling inducing means in said chamber member extending diagnally thereacross.

4. A dice tumbler as claimed in claim 1, wherein said conduit in transverse cross-section and each of said access openings include generally a circular extent substantially larger than a maximum extent of a die associated therewith.

5. A dice tumbler as claimed in claim 1, wherein said housing front, rear and side walls are transparent.

6. A dice tumbler as claimed in claim 1, wherein said tumbling inducing means includes a cross-bar, and means to secure opposite ends of said cross-bar to said one chamber side wall and said opposite chamber side wall respectively.

7. A dice tumbler as claimed in claim 1, wherein each portion of said chamber bottom wall around said second aperture is substantially less than one-half of a least lateral extent of the free-falling die so as not to prevent the free-falling die from passing through said second aperture should the free-falling die contact one portion of said chamber bottom wall.

8. A dice tumbler as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means removably securing said conduit includes a press-fit relationship between said conduit and walls of said any selected one of said access openings. 

1. A dice tumbler comprising a housing, said housing including front, rear, top, bottom and side walls defining a generally rectangular configuration in transverse cross-section, a plurality of spaced partitions of parallel extent disposed in said housing, said partitions dividing said housing into a plurality of successively adjoining yet isolated compartments extending in a linear array, each of said compartments being at least partially transparent for permitting observation of die disposition, said housing top wall being provided with a plurality of access openings corresponding in number to said compartments, each of said access openings being disposed respectively with an associated one of said compartments to provide a passageway through which a die is insertable into said associated one of said compartments, auxiliary means detachably connectable in operative association with any selected one of said access openings for initially inducing die tumbling prior to insertion into a selected compartment, said auxiliary means being movable from a first selected access opening to a second selected access opening, said auxiliary means including a chamber member provided with top and bottom walls, said chamber top wall being provided with a first aperture therethrough on said chamber bottom wall being provided with an opposing second aperture therethrough, said chamber including a tumbling inducing means disposed between and spaced from said chamber top and bottom walls in a position extending across said first and second apertures from one chamber side wall to an opposite chamber side wall for engaging and altering disposition of a die in free-fall from said first aperture to insure random agitation of the freefalling die before reaching said second aperture, said tumbling inducing means allowing the free-falling die to pass in a random manner in either one of two paths defined by opposite sides of said tumbler inducing means respectively, said auxiliary means further including a conduit connected to said chamber bottom wall in communication with said second aperture for receiving the free-falling die, and means removably securing said conduit to said housing top wall in communication with said any selected one of said a access openings for insertion of the free-falling die into said selected compartment.
 2. A dice tumbler as claimed in claim 1, wherein said chamber member in transverse cross-section is provided with a substantially larger area than that of said conduit. 3.. A dice tumbler as claimed in claim 1, wherein said chamber member and each of said compartments respectively in transverse cross-section include generally a parallelogram extent, said tumbling inducing means in said chamber member extending diagnally thereacross.
 4. A dice tumbler as claimed in claim 1, wherein said conduit in transverse cross-section and each of said access openings include generally a circular extent substantially larger than a maximum extent of a die associated therewith.
 5. A dice tumbler as claimed in claim 1, wherein said housing front, rear and side walls are transparent.
 6. A dice tumbler as claimed in claim 1, wherein said tumbling inducing means includes a cross-bar, and means to secure opposite ends of said cross-bar to said one chamber side wall and said opposite chamber side wall respectively.
 7. A dice tumbler as claimed in claim 1, wherein each portion of said chamber bottom wall around said second aperture is substantially less than one-half of a least lateral extent of the free-falling die so as not to prevent the free-falling die from passing through said second aperture should the free-falling die contact one portion of said chamber bottom wall.
 8. A dice tumbler as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means removably securing said conduit includes a press-fit relationship between said conduit and walls of said any selected one of said access openings. 